MLB News

CarGo homers in return to lineup

By
Thomas HardingMLB.com

CLEVELAND -- After a night out of the starting lineup and a day of rest, Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez's bruised right calf had healed to the point that he could start on Friday night against the Indians.

Although using him as the designated hitter was an option, Gonzalez started in left field. Corey Dickerson served as DH.

CLEVELAND -- After a night out of the starting lineup and a day of rest, Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez's bruised right calf had healed to the point that he could start on Friday night against the Indians.

Although using him as the designated hitter was an option, Gonzalez started in left field. Corey Dickerson served as DH.

Gonzalez fouled a pitch off his calf during Wednesday night's 6-2 victory at Philadelphia. Manager Walt Weiss didn't start him Thursday, but used him as a pinch-hitter with no outs and the bases loaded in the seventh inning. But Phillies pitcher Mike Adams broke Gonzalez's bat and turned a mound-to-home-to-first double play in a game the Rockies eventually lost, 6-3.

"I feel much better than I did the night I did it, and I think being off [Thursday] helped," Gonzalez said. "I'm not going to do any extra running or anything before the game. Just take batting practice and field some balls in the outfield."

It was the fourth nagging injury of the season for Gonzalez, who twice has missed starts because of a left index finger injury and has dealt on and off with tendinitis in his left knee.

In his second at-bat of the game, Gonzalez hit a two-run home run to right field, his eighth of the year.